THE REMEDY FOR CARE

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

A. "BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST"
  1. This is a timely admonition by the apostle:
    1. The cares of this life are not confined to nonbelievers
    2. God's people, too, are suffering from the cares of this world - Luke 21:34
  2. Worry by men:
    1. Is a modern killer
    2. It destroys health, digs early graves and shortens the lives of many people B. THE REMEDY FOR CARE IS THE BURDEN OF THIS MESSAGE
  3. "Be careful in nothing"
    1. This was a timely admonition to the Philippians at a time when they face persecution and material hardship
    2. Paul, their spiritual father, knew of their hardship and he felt that they were in need of his fatherly suggestions
  4. It must be noted:
    1. That Paul did not want the believers to be indifferent or careless in meeting their temporal needs
    2. He wrote to the believers at Thessalonica "If any would not work, neither should he eat" - 2 Thess.. 3:10-11
  5. He counseled against worry or care by the believers:
    1. Because worry or anxiety are no remedy for human problems
    2. To the contrary, they increase man's misery
    3. Actually, worry or care are a mark of distrust in the interest and care of our heavenly Father
  6. Our Saviour was fully aware of the harmfulness of worry and He gave a strong discourse on this very subject:
    1. "Take no thought for tomorrow" - Matt. 6:25-34
    2. "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things" - Matt. 6:26
    3. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" - Matt. 6:33-34 C. GOD'S SEVENFOLD REMEDY FOR THE CURE OF ALL ANXIETY, WORRY AND CARE
  7. Get rid of them by:
    1. "Casting all your cares upon him, for He careth for you" - I Pet. 5:7
    2. "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him" - Ps. 103:13
  8. Have faith in God:
    1. He that caused the raven to bring the food to Elijah - I Kings 17:4-6 will take care of you too
    2. Paul assures us in these inspiring words, "My God shall supply all your needs" - Phil. 4:19
  9. God assures us in His word:
    1. "As thy days so shall thy strength be" - Deut. 33:25
    2. "Bread shall be given him; his water shall be sure" - Is. 33:15-17
  10. The Psalmist testifies:
    1. "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread" - Ps. 37:25
    2. "Who giveth food to all flesh; for his mercy endureth forever" - Ps. 136:25
  11. Follow the admonitions of our opening text:
    1. Make known your needs to your Father in heaven; He is able and willing to supply them in ways of which we know not
    2. Think of how he cared for the poor widow who was about to lose her children because she was unable to pay her debts - 2 Kings 4:1-7
    3. Or recall of how the Lord saved the life of Ishmael from dying for thirst - Gen. 21:17-18
  12. Attach your heart to the things that are above and the Lord will supply your earthly needs:
    1. This is a real test to our faith; Examples: Think of the poor widow that places all her living into the Lord's treasury - Mark 12:41-44; we never read of her starving to death because of hunger
    2. Your humble servant is a living witness to the wonderful care he and his family had during all our married life


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